Apple Quietly Intros Aluminum Remote, Updated Wireless Base Stations

In usual Apple manner, the Cupertino-based Mac maker made additional changes to its product lineup without properly informing fans of the company’s software and electronics. It is the case of the new Apple Remote, which now features an improved design whilst selling for the unchanged price of $19, as well as the AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule wireless base stations, which now offer an even better performance and range, thanks to a better antenna.

Talking about its new remote, Apple posts the following description: “Control your Mac, iPod, or iPhone from afar with the sleek aluminum Apple Remote.” “Play, pause, adjust volume, move forward and back, and access menus while playing music and video,” the description over at the company’s web store goes. The product ships in two-four weeks, according to the respective web page.

In keeping with the people at World of Apple, the new Apple Remote can be used with any Mac model released after 2005, and is also compatible with any iPod with a Dock connector and iPhones when used in conjunction with an iPod Universal Dock. The Apple TV is also supported.

As noted above, Apple also updated the AirPort Extreme base station and its powerful Time Capsule. The devices come in the same configurations for the same prices as before, featuring a single, under-the-hood improvement – an increased wireless performance. According to Apple, improvements in antenna design now give users up to a 50 percent better Wi-Fi performance and up to a 25 percent better range than with the previous-generation base stations.

Another new product that didn’t deserve its own spot (headline) in Apple’s press room is the new Mac mini for Snow Leopard Server. Apple, however, does mention the new model in the report announcing the new iMac with 21.5 and 27-inch displays, saying that it has removed the mini’s optical drive and filled the void with an additional hard drive for up to 1TB of storage, making it the perfect server for all kinds of activities. SuperDrive-equipped units are still available, keeping the same prices but featuring more processor power, storage and memory.